Caroline joins Ed's team

Caroline Flint has expressed delight at her appointment as Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in Ed Miliband’s Shadow Cabinet.

“To be elected to the Shadow Cabinet is a great vote of confidence. I was delighted when Ed offered me the Communities brief and I can’t wait to get stuck in.

“There is a real mood of confidence among colleagues and a determination to hold this Coalition to account.

“It is our intention to be a reasonable, purposeful opposition – we won’t oppose just to court popularity. But we fear that the Government’s approach to the deficit is rash and reckless and important local services may be sacrificed in their drive to reduce the deficit, whatever the cost.”

"There is a real mood

of confidence among colleagues

and a determination to hold

this Coalition to account."

Ms Flint, who is a near neighbour of Labour Leader, Ed Miliband, said: “I have a great relationship with Ed Miliband and Rosie Winterton and I believe there will be real team work and purpose about how we approach this parliament as an opposition.,”

Ms Flint was elected as one of the 19 Shadow Cabinet members, in tenth place with 139 votes. 49 MPs stood for election.